William Herschel discovered NGC 687 = H III-561 on 21 Sep 1786 (sweep 599) and noted "vF, stellar." The NGC position is 4 sec of RA east and 2.3' S of UGC 1298 = PGC 6782.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/22/84): moderately bright, small, round, bright core.

13.1" (12/11/82): fairly bright, small, round, bright core, ~1' diameter.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): moderately bright, fairly small, round, bright core, stellar nucleus. Member of AGC 262.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb